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I found this joke on a blog whose author does not believe in God; nonetheless, it is funny.

There’s an old joke about a man who is being shown around heaven for the first time, by St. Peter, who walks around pointing out the various glories where people of all colors and ethnic persuasions live — grassy hills, green meadows, still waters, symphony halls, silent spaces, steep hillsides for people who want to hike to the mountaintops or the ponds, and so on. Then they come upon a great walled fortress.

"What on earth is that?" asks the man. "Oh," says St. Peter. "That’s where the fundamentalists live. It’s not heaven for them if they think anyone else got in."

"The practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching. Therefore self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers or appointed to serve in the United Methodist Church."

Rev. Irene Elizabeth "Beth" Stroud was defrocked by the United Methodist Church in December because she revealed to her congregation, after living in secrecy for two years, that she is in a life-time committed "marriage" with someone of the same sex.

Yesterday Rev. Stroud's case was reviewed during a church appeal that was held in a Linthicum, MA hotel room, according to Baltimoresun.com's article by Stephanie Desmon.

Rev. Tom Hall, who represented the church, said: 'This trial was not, nor is about how good and wonderful we are as ministers. It is not about the boundaries, about the lines. It is about a good person who has stepped over the line.'

And according to the leaders of the United Methodist Church and traditional Christianity, Rev. Stroud clearly stepped over the line into living in sin when she chose to have a homosexual relationship.

But according to Authentic Biblical Christianity, Rev. Stroud is living a moral life of "ABC" faith as she lives in a monogamous committed conjugal marriage with Christ as the head and her spouse by her side.

Rev. Stroud should be commended for standing up for the Truth. She is an example of what it means to be a Christian queer who picks up their cross and follows Christ Jesus. The servant is not greater than the master. If they hated me, they will hate you also.

According to The New York Times the founder of Microsoft indicated recently that Microsoft may change its position, again, and support lesbian and gay rights.

Pick a side Bill, any side. Just choose one and stick with it.

Although Microsoft's waffling may seem like a good thing for the lesbian and gay community, it doesn't appear that way to me. I mean, since Microsoft had recently changed its stance after years of supporting the gay community and then abruptly changed it because repressive "Christians" may reduce their financial support by not purchasing Microsoft products any longer, then for Gates to indicate something different... The truth be told: the only thing on Gates' mind is money, not what is right, just and fair...just money.

I think Microsoft has finally divulged where they stand: on the fence. Fence-sitting is the easy way out for those who do not stand for anything at all. Microsoft cannot be trusted as a faithful ally to the gay Christian community. They serve mammon, not God.

Bill Gates has proven time and again that he is loyal to no one but himself (and his money).

Wake up queers. Open your eyes. Otherwise you will be prey to every kind of deception.

...you're on the air.

Microsoft's CEO sent an e-mail to employees breaking the news that Microsoft has no intentions of supporting equality for all regardless of sexual orientation because it is not within Microsoft's objectives this year, which is to dominate the software world and make billions more dollars for Bill.

Published on SeattlePI.com and written by Associated Press writer Elizabeth M. Gillespie on Saturday was the tale of the greedy giant who sat out on the anti-discrimination bill because it would be bad for business. What do you expect from a company built by a man who worships the buck? ...and as we know, will stop at nothing to get it - even a call to do what is right.

Well if queers in Seattle can't even get a bill passed for equitable and fair housing and employment for GLBT persons, then gay marriage seems completely out of the question.

And if Microsoft is saying - in so many words - that it doesn't give a damn about standing up for equal rights because doing so may bring down profit margins then Seattlites may need to take a closer look at their long-time neighbor and ask some important questions.